How about a freebie? Many companies are starting to offer freebies to healthcare workers of all kinds right now. They know we are struggling and they know we support them in crisis or not.
A freebie coffee, dozen donuts, meditation moment, or pair of shoes are just some of the options for all of us! Check out these links for information about freebies to help get you through your shift.
And please know that, when it feels like no one else cares, when you can’t get the PPE you need, and when it feels like the world is crashing down around you, I know you are still charging ahead. You are still seeing that patient, you are still going to that house, you are still performing those procedures. And these companies know it, too.
So thank you from me and from them.
Starbucks is currently offering a free tall hot or iced coffee for all healthcare workers during open hours at all open locations. I don’t know about you, but this is my life blood. Here is a picture of me with one of my free ones!

Maybe coffee isn’t your thing. And that’s fine, although, I don’t know how you get through your day… Maybe you use a perfectly acceptable substitution: donuts!
Krispy Kreme is offering free dozen donuts to healthcare workers. This offer is available every Monday until May 11, which is the conclusion of national nurses week. My office has definitely had a few boxes of these showing up from week to week.
And yet, maybe donuts aren’t your thing either! Although now, I really question your motives…
If you are looking for a calm in the storm, a break from the crazy, or a moment of quiet inside of your head, headspace is offering free memberships for all healthcare workers and associated professions. The easiest way to do this is to enter your NPI number, but you don’t have to have one to get the free membership. You just need to fill out an affidavit. Check out this link for registration

HeadSpace: https://help.headspace.com/hc/en-us/articles/360045161413-Headspace-for-Healthcare-Professionals
And who doesn’t want a pair of shoes???
Crocs is offering a free pair to heath are providers. They may not be exactly your style, but they are easy to wipe down, light weight, and surprising comfortable for most people.

And, at the very least, gas up on your way to work this morning with a coupon from BP. BP is currently offering $.50 off per gallon of gas for healthcare workers. You have to register and be identified through ID.me, but the coupon is good until the end of May.

If none of that does it for you, but you are in to fashion, The North Face is offering HUGE discounts to health care workers! Maybe Crocs just are too cool for you are you are looking for something more mainstream?

Still not in to it? Ok, if you’re driving to work, you probably need an oil change or a car cleaning at some point. Mazda is offering free services to health are workers, regardless of what car they drive! Check it out:

Again, thank you, no matter who you are or what you do. You matter.
If you know of any other freebies for healthcare workers, let me know in the comments!

Emergency Response Screening
I hope, at this point, you’ve all heard of the FAST acronym for identifying signs of a cerebrovascular accident (aka stroke). My in-laws even have a magnet on their fridge with a great comic strip describing the FAST acronym. I have run in to a couple different versions of it in the last few years,Continue reading “Emergency Response Screening”

PT/INRs: Helping Patients Manage their Anticoagulation
So, who’s up for some bloodwork? Venipuncture, anyone? Finger prick, maybe? No..? Oh… Well, ok then. I’ll carry on. I know it may sound a bit crazy, but as a PT, I actually do some (very) minor blood work. I’m not trained as a nurse or phlebotomist or anything like that. Nope. Just some on-the-job-trainingContinue reading “PT/INRs: Helping Patients Manage their Anticoagulation”

It’s Getting Hot in Here: Body Temperature
How many times have you had your temperature taken lately? I think I’ve had my temperature taken thousands of times in the last few months. We are seeing the increased use of forehead scanning thermometers and temporal scanners, all the non-contact forms of temperature assessment, to screen folks for COVID-19 symptoms upon entry to anyContinue reading “It’s Getting Hot in Here: Body Temperature”
Follow @DoctorBthePT on Twitter for regular updates!
Several nurse friends have tried to get a pair of crocs. They’re being told that they are giving away 10000 pairs per day. My friend Becki said she was number 40000 the day she tried.
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I never would have thought they were so popular!
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